Four groups apply to operate historic Point Fermin Lighthouse in San Pedro

Three philanthropic groups are competing to operate the historic Point Fermin Lighthouse museum as a way to raise funds and provide satellite services for their respective missions.

Also vying for the 3.5-acre property - which was declared surplus by the federal government last year - is the city of Los Angeles, which has run the facility as a museum since 2003.

Altogether, four applications were submitted to acquire the picturesque property at the top of a 120-foot-tall ocean bluff in Point Fermin Park.

The documents are under review, with a selection expected to be announced by the National Parks Service this spring or summer.

Ten groups turned in initial letters of interest to operate the property. But in addition to the city, only three of those later sumbitted complete applications before the deadline: Dana's Hope of Pennsylvania, GivingCare Inc. of Chicago, and Symbols of Love in Fontana.

The property will have to be maintained as a public benefit. Three of the applicants (a representative from Dana's Hope could not be reached for comment) said they will continue to operate the lighthouse as a public museum while using other buildings or the parking lot for expanded events or uses.

Conveyed to the selected applicant at no cost, the property must be used and maintained for education, recreation, cultural or historic preservation or as a park, based on guidelines laid out by the federal government.

The applicants are:

-- City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks, which currently is operating the lighthouse as a public museum in conjunction with the nonprofit Point Fermin Lighthouse Society.

The city would continue that work - with collaboration of the Friends of Point Fermin Lighthouse and probably other community groups - but also would expand the concept. Specifically, the city would use a guest quarters south of the lighthouse for public events such as exhibits or readings. The outdoor areas also would be used for events and picnics.

"We would utilize that property inside and outside so the public could have access to it," said Mark Mariscal, superintendent of the region for Recreation and Parks.

"Our gut feeling is that the department put a very good application together," he said.

-- Dana's Hope, according to the group's website, emerged as a nonprofit when 15-year-old Dana Hardy collapsed while running on her high school track. She was diagnosed with a condition that through the years took her on a medical journey that included a pacemaker, a stroke and finally a heart transplant last fall.

The Dana's Hope website is dedicated to posts about Hardy and her medical progress. While launched by friends and family to raise funds for Hardy's own mounting medical bills, Dana's Hope was envisioned to become a nonprofit for others having transplants.

-- GivingCare Inc. got its start in Chicago when Ken Carr and some of his friends began participating in Habitat for Humanity projects.

The group took part in building houses throughout the United States and Mexico, including projects in Watts and San Pedro.

"We're not strangers" to the port town, Carr said in a telephone interview.

After Carr's parents died of cancer, he and his friends started up a nonprofit that would be dedicated to teach people how to care for bedridden loved ones, including practical help in learning how to give baths and change diapers and linens.

Carr said the group would continue to operate the lighthouse as a historic museum - opening it seven days a week with free admission - while also using the property and other buildings as a community center for events and also for classes such as gardening, home health care, exercise, taxes and possibly immigration.

The parking lot area and part of the garage building would be rented out for weddings and parties; a farmers market and art fairs would also help generate funds for the group's mission, he said.

"What's great about the lighthouse is its location and just the beauty of it," he said. "It's a hidden gem."

-- Symbols of Love is "dedicated to assisting most anyone in need, whenever possible," said Richard Peacock, founder and president, in an email response to questions about the organization.

Working with a group called Accelerating Ministries, a faith-based organization in Fontana, the group looks to help those who have found themselves out of work, addicted or homeless.

"Symbols of Love Organization reaches out to troubled youth and the homeless, as well as low income families by offering them assistance through many outreach programs," Peacock wrote.

"We have planned for the continued use of the Point Fermin Light Station as a historic tool to educate its visitors of its beautiful architecture and its historic function. We have no plans to alter or change its function.

"We do, however, plan for acoustic music events within the parks as well as gathering works from local artists ... and expanding the gift shop to include their merchandise."

The vision, he said, includes bringing in schoolchildren for field trips that would share in the art and music.

A possibility also would be to offer outreach classes in a community center setting, with a focus on the gated guest house.